Match Report - Earls Colne & Bures vs. Little Clacton 30/05/04

PDQ Cars League Match - Division 3

Earls Colne & Bures 138 all out (42 overs)

(Nick Oakley 62 not out)

Little Clacton 131 All Out (46.4 overs)

Earls Colne & Bures won by 7 runs.

Team Sheet

Fascinating game at Earls Colne, with the home side running out winners by just 7 runs. A most spirited performance from a side containing 5 players aged 18 or under, against an amiable opponent!

Mr. Slow, in the captain's chair in the absence of young Will, won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which he had been assured would play well. Subsequent events proved this not to be the case with the new ball rising sharply off a length, or keeping low! E C & B did not start well, with Craig Lesiak quickly back in the pavilion for a duck and Mr. Slow lasting only a few deliveries before top-edging a pull shot. Score 2 for 2! Enter Henry Pilgrim who showed good technique and in partnership with Lewis Chambers took the score on to 53 for 3 off 21 overs, before he holed out to mid-off. Lewis followed shortly, the victim of his own ludicrous call for a run, run out for 23. Kev Coyle perished to square leg, Kieron Webb was caught at slip and Big Patrick was caught at mid-off. E C & B 70 for 7 and in dire trouble. But Mr. Slow's cunning batting order began to pay dividends with Nick Oakley quickly into his stride, partnered by the youthful but thankfully obdurate James "Stodge" Bocking. Nick's record with the bat has been patchy at Earls Colne, but Mr. Slow's faith in his ability was rewarded handsomely as he struck the ball to all parts, being particularly savage on anything short. Meanwhile, James defended as if his life depended upon it before he was finally bowled for 6, having faced 38 deliveries and the partnership having yielded 60 invaluable runs. Phil Frances, on his senior debut, sadly fell for a golden duck and Chris Nash was dismissed for a another duck leaving Nick high and dry on 62 not out and E C & B on 138 all out.

After tea, the Little Clacton reply started steadily against an Oakley/Lesiak attack. The paucity of wickets lead to the introduction of Mr. Slow who tried to prise out the openers with a series of flighted deliveries, while Oakley ruled with a rod of iron from the other end. Finally, a wicket for Oakley with his odd leg break, caught off an outside edge by the keeper. The score mounted slowly, 52 for 2 off 20, 81 for 3 of 30 and 120 for 5 off 44 but Little Clacton did not seem to be in any trouble and appeared to be on course for victory. The home side stuck to their task with tight fielding and excellent bowling. And suddenly, things changed. Fine economical spells from Kieron Webb and Pat McKenna had taken their toll and Mr. Slow picked up 2 wickets in his final over and Big Pat bagged a fine caught and bowled. 125 for 9! Suddenly, victory for E C & B seemed possible. Setting a deep field Mr Slow entrusted the penultimate over to wicketkeeper Kev Coyle, who tempted the batsman into an injudicious straight drive which Mr. Slow himself was delighted to catch. Victory for Earls Colne and Bures from a seemingly indefensible position over a magnanimous opponent. Bravo!

It was a terrific team effort and Mr. Slow brimmed with pride. Not only for the youngsters who had contributed so materially to the victory, but also his old mucker Oakley with whom he had played village cricket some two decades previously and who had now contributed so significantly to the victory. Fortunately, adequate beer provision in the form of Moorhouse's Premier Bitter had been made by Mr. Webb of the Earls Colne Recreation Club and members (well some members, anyway) drank deeply into the night against a backdrop of a magnificent sunset over Green Farm Meadows.

Our record stands at 3 played, 3 won. The combined Earls Colne and Bures side marches on undefeated but with fresh challenges ahead..........

E C & B bowling figures....

Contact us - here